New Jersey Shore Towns Press Owners on Dunes With Threats of Eminent Domain Following Sandy

Many New Jersey Shore towns battered by superstorm Sandy are moving to seize private land to accommodate a network of protective coastal dunes, using their powers of eminent domain in a way officials say they never have before.

The state needed about 2,000 property owners to sign easements for the dunes to be constructed, but about 780 have declined to do so, said Christopher Porrino, who recently was appointed chief counsel for...